Manifesto Ulster Unionist Party The Ulster Unionist Party will DELIVER. We are delivering on all the important issues for you and will continue to do so on: • the maintenance of the Union • peace and democracy • greater prosperity • improved quality of life • better services • good education • better health services. • We will protect your rights and the rights of children now and in the future. page one Rt Hon David Trimble with David Burnside Jeffrey Donaldson with Rt Hon John D Taylor Election 2001 We are advocates for the Union. Key priorities for the next Parliament Unionism is not based on any sense of must be: elitism or particular religious belief. It is • to enhance the role of Ulster Unionism based on a sense of Britishness - a shared at the heart of British political life bond and a shared history with the rest of the United Kingdom. It is inclusive: all • to deliver strengthened local democratic the peoples of the British Isles and all accountability through a more effective Northern Ireland Assembly sections of the community in Northern Ireland have contributed to, and • to deliver a culture of lawfulness participated in, that history. throughout Northern Ireland The Union offers all the people of • to deliver a stronger Northern Ireland economy and greater prosperity Northern Ireland the best prospect of peace and fair play because it unites us all into a • to deliver a better quality of social, genuinely plural, liberal, democratic state, cultural and environmental life capable of accomodating social, cultural and religious diversity, and offering • to deliver better technical and vocational education while maintaining high opportunity to all. academic standards • to deliver a better, more effective health service • to deliver a reformed and enhanced local government and a leaner, more efficient public administration page three We intend to enhance further the standing Westminster matters of Unionism in the eyes Economic policy, all tax matters and the levels and type The Ulster Unionist Parliamentary Party has earned of our fellow citizens of public expenditure are determined at Westminster. respect right across the House. Ulster Unionists have Defence, Criminal Justice, Policing, European and regularly participated in UK delegations to the Council and to make our party Foreign Affairs are also reserved to Westminster. of Europe, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the While the Assembly has a degree of autonomy over the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. We intend a more significant allocation of resources, the major contours of policy to enhance further the standing of Unionism in the eyes element of British in relation to devolved issues such as health and of our fellow citizens and to make our party a more education will still be decided nationally. significant element of British public life. We do not public life. Stormont’s budget and agenda continues to be set in intend to ever let Ulster Unionism be marginalised. We do not intend to London. Those who say Westminster is irrelevant, therefore, are wrong. ever let Ulster Unionism “I wish to say a sincere thank you The Ulster Unionist Party seeks to make a contribution on behalf of the House and the people be marginalised. of Northern Ireland to Mr Taylor to national life, not only in relation to Northern Ireland and Mr Maginnis who will leave us... matters, but over the whole gamut of national issues. They have made a major contribution Nothing better symbolises our determination to be to the business of the House British than our desire to participate in the affairs of the and to the benefit of the people they represent, British nation. as well as all of the people of Northern Ireland.” Rt Hon Dr John Reid The UUP is the only Northern Ireland political party Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 9th May 2001 which plays a full part in Westminster debates, both in the Commons and in the Lords. In this we build on “John Taylor has made an Ulster Unionist achievements, such as: fair enormous contribution, representation at Westminster; the Northern Ireland and I thank him for that.” Rt Hon Tony Blair, Prime Minister, 9th May 2001 Select Committee; the Northern Ireland Grand Committee; and the inclusion of Northern Ireland into UK legislation. Liaison with the Assembly, Westminster and European Parliamentary teams ensures continuity of policy and cross-fertilisation of ideas and information. Thus we deliver modern dynamic representation and maintain parity of services for Northern Ireland. page five The Assembly has made a good start, Delivering democratic accountability addressing the areas As Unionists, we have a duty to make Northern Ireland The Assembly is jeopardised by the failure of terrorist neglected work, to prove it is not the “failed political entity” of organisations to disarm, to indicate demonstrably to republican propaganda. It is also in the interests of society that their campaigns are at an end. Inclusive under Direct Rule. unionists to show to Northern nationalists that working government cannot be sustained indefinitely in such with us in Northern Ireland provides a better future than circumstances. The offer of partnership between But collective decision- any United Ireland. Our approach will continue to be equals based on respect for each other’s identities and making needs to be positive. We will continue to engage with our for the law that we made in 1997 stands. But the government and others to ensure unionist concerns are UUP will not be party to any attempt to bury the strengthened and the not sidelined. decommissioning issue or ignore it as other political Committees need to parties do. To do so would threaten democracy and The Assembly has made a good start, addressing the public safety. enhance their policy- areas neglected under Direct Rule, notably our making role. economic infrastructure. Crises such as Foot and We regret that others play down the threat to peace Mouth show the value of locally accountable decision and democracy from paramilitaries and have so far making. At the same time we work loyally with the failed to deliver their pledges. national framework of the United Kingdom. The Joint Ministerial Committees with colleagues in “...if ...these provisions have been shown to be ineffective, we London, Cardiff and Edinburgh have made a good will support changes to these provisions to enable them to be properly effective in preventing such people start. We want to build on them. We also want to from holding office.” enhance the “Council of the Isles” - the British Irish Rt Hon Tony Blair, Prime Minister, 10 April, 1998 Council which we believe has real potential for the future. “For many unionists there is the fear that Sinn Fein seeks to pocket the maximum sectoral advantage from the Agreement... and then will fail to honour their The UUP is as committed to making the Assembly a decommissioning obligations... the SDLP would rigorously success. Under Direct Rule, decisions were made by enforce the terms of the Agreement and remove from office London ministers and the bureaucracy. Furthermore, those who had so blatantly dishonoured their obligations.” the Assembly provides unionists with a veto over policy Seamus Mallon, Deputy Leader, SDLP 13 November, 1998 decisions in Northern Ireland and over cross-Border co- operation. The Party is committed to good relations with the Republic of Ireland but they must be based in mutual advantage, not ideological nationalist schemes. But collective decision-making within the administration needs to be strengthened. The Committees have worked well in developing accountability, but we need to enhance their role in policy making. page seven Cecil Walker listening to a Police Constable in North Belfast All sections of society have a responsibility Delivering a culture of lawfulness to develop a culture Government must remain vigilant and ready to deal We have new challenges to face in the fight against of lawfulness. Casual with all residual terrorism while organised crime and crime - cross-border smuggling of fuel and animals racketeering are an increasing threat as the paramilitary which has undoubtedly lead to the foot-and-mouth violence, gangsterism organisations are turning into armed gangsters. It is also outbreak, the appalling drugs trade, and racketeering important to retain the integrity of the Royal Ulster generally. These criminals think they are beyond the and racketeering Constabulary - it is essential that we have an effective law, but the RUC and society must ensure that they are must be tackled. and efficient police force. brought to justice. At the same time, all sections of society have a The UUP supports the creation of an Anti-Intimidation responsibility to develop a culture of lawfulness. We Unit to vindicate the right of those who suffer at the cannot continue with some sections of society behaving hands of paramilitaries - as in the Northern Ireland as if they owe no duty to any law or any administration. Select Committee Report. We will also continue to The casual violence on our streets, gangsterism and press for the use here of the measures that broke the racketeering must be tackled. Mafia in the USA - the admissibility of “wiretap” evidence, confiscation of criminally acquired assets and Developing a culture of lawfulness goes further than all legal measures directed against groups of racketeers. parties supporting the police and participating in the new Police Board. Churches, schools, business, community groups must all row in behind the police and work to develop a culture where keeping the law, restraining the wrongdoer and helping to maintain a free, peaceful and orderly atmosphere in all walks of life comes naturally. Ulster Unionists will play their role in developing a culture of lawfulness. We will support policing despite bad political decisions of government or any mistakes in policing. We will also resolutely oppose any attempt to accommodate terrorism within the field of law and order by, for example, a two-tier police force - or so-called “community policing” involving paramilitaries.